Tiger Leaping Gorge (UNESCO World Heritage) one of the deepest gorges in the world

Dali with its 3 pagodas and its huge Buddhist temple

Biggest Happy Buddha statue in Mile

Local festival at the wholy spring in Bai Shui tai

The opportunity to experience an authentic Chinese tea ceremony

World famous Chinese cuisine and much more

This is a Tour designed from Photographers for Photographers.Yunnan is the most beautiful and scenic province in China. It hosts the most ethnic groups and has the most cultural diversity. This multiplicity of cultures has endowed the province with a rich heritage that it shares with all who come to visit. There is always something wonderful to see and do here.The tour is well balanced in order to give you an insightful view to all the important and most famous sites of this province, as well as the hidden unknown places along the way. Yunnan Province has pleasant weather all year round and is endlessly fascinating. It will be a tour of a lifetime. We are a German / Chinese couple who have worked as Photographers and Tour Guides for many years. Liao Yan, "Haiqi" is a Yunnan born Photographer and Journalist. Thomas Boehm is a Photographer and Tour Guide for China and Ladakh / India.

Information Yunnan Foto Tour (2)

Yunnan is a province in southwestern China with a varied landscape encompassing snow-capped mountains, rice terraces, lakes and deep gorges. The region is known for its large number of ethnic minorities. Modern Kunming, known as the “Spring City,” has many museums and temples, including colorful Yuantong Temple. To the southeast, Shilin Stone Forest contains limestone karst peaks formed 270 million years ago.This and many other facts make this a prime destination for photographers in China.

Tour Itinarary Yunnan Foto Tour (2)

01.Day

International Flight to Kunming / Yunnan Province, China.

2.Day

First group meeting in Kunming, the capital of Yunnan province.Yunnan province has the nickname as “the province of eternal spring” since the climate is very moderate throughout the year. The elevation of Kunming is about 2000 m / 6560 ft. above sea level. The air is dry and it is never too cold or too hot. Depending on the time of arrival, first we will have a relaxing walk in Kunming and then a tasty first dinner together. Night in 4**** star Hotel (-/-/D)

03.Day

After a typical Chinese breakfast we will go to the Green Lake Park, a scenic, beautiful spot inside the city. By the end of the Yuan Dynasty, it was still a swampy field for growing vegetables, lotuses and rice, that's why it's called "Vegetable (Green) Lake". Every winter, thousands of red-beaked seagulls from as far away as Siberia migrate to the Park. These seagulls swoop over the water and scramble over the crumbs of food offered by the locals. Here we will also have a chance to watch the people of Kunming doing what most Chinese like to do in their spare time. Play cards, sing and dance, play music, doing Thai Chi or just gossip and drink tea. The photo opportunities here are endless. After that we will drive to the Stone Forest in Shilin (UNESCO Heritage Site)The magnificent, strange and steep landscape of the Stone Forest creates countless labyrinthine vistas, all of which feature stones in various formations. Some are elegant, some are rugged, and each is lifelike with its own distinguishing characteristics. (B/L/D) Night in Hotel

04.Day

From Shilin we are driving to Luxy (100 km / 65 mi.) In Lucy we will visit (depending on today’s weather) a very impressive, huge limestone cave. Divided into 3 big parts the cave is well worth exploring. If the weather is pleasant we might consider going first to more than a 600 years old authentic village of the Yi minority. The houses are made of mud and straw. We have enough time to stroll with ease through the small stone alleys of that cute village. We know a few local families that we will visit where you can take pictures and chat with the locals. (B/L/D) Night in Hotel

05.Day

Depending on what we did the day before we can either go to the cave or visit the village. After lunch we will drive to Mile. The lake in the middle of the town attracts many local people.Couples shooting wedding pictures, fisherman try to catch a fish, joggers and bikers do their exercise, women might dance and so on.Great spot to take photos.(B/L/D) Night in 3***Hotel

06.Day

After breakfast we will see a nother atraction of that tour. Set up on a scenic hill, sits the huge, impressive golden Buddha. It is the biggest statue of its kind in the world. It is called laughing or happy / smiling Buddha with the big round belly. To get there we have to hike up huge stone stairs and have to pass big arched temple gates. The higher we get the more impressive the view of the Mile area gets. After lunch we have the chance to relax at a inspirering outdoor - pool "spa" oasis. The nature outdoor hot-pools (104°F) are enriched with either, aloa vera, coconutmilk, green tea, red wine or gingseng essence. All set in a lush, dense and green environment with fountains and waterfalls. This is also the place to enjoy a massage or swimm in the big fresh-water pool.(B/L/D) Night in 3***Hotel

07.Day

After breakfast we will continue to a place that was named a UNESCO World – Heritage Site in 2013. The endless rice terraces of Yuang Yangare one of China's most outstanding sites. The Hani people were already cultivating those steep slopes in the mountains with rice fields more than 500 years ago. The somewhat 12 500 ha of land are at about 2000 m above sea level. Days are warm and pleasant and nights are cool and that creates in the morning a lot of moisture and fog. Moving up from the canyon-like valleys to the rice fields creates a mystical and ever-changing scene of clouds, rice fields and fog. The light and colors are changing all the time until around midday when the sun wins the battle and burns them all off. Tonight we will watch our first spectacular sunset.(B/L/D) Night in Hotel ***

08.Day

At around 5 am we will leave our hotel for one of the most famous spots in the area to watch the sunrise above the rice fields. The rest of the day we will drive around the rice terraces of Yuan yang. Many times we will get out of the car and walk in the fields. The photo opportunities are endless and we will have all the time in the world! If there is a farmers market in that area we will difinatly go there to visit.(B/L/D) Night in Hotel ***

09.Day

After breakfast we will drive to Tien Shui. The long history of Jianshui has produced its splendid culture. Due to its early development, Jianshui produced thousands of scholars. Moreover, with the influence of the grand Jianshui Confucius Temple, it has rightfully been called "the Cultural City" since the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Here we will watch a parkconcert held by locals in their traditional dressen playing old ancient chinese music. After that we will visit the private Garden of the well-known Zhu Family. With a total area of 20.000sq.m the grand complex is a typical local residence with distinctive features. It was built by the Zhu brothers in the late Qing Dynasty. The atmosphere and surroundings are incomparable to any other family garden in Yunnan. Many movies were filmed there! If possible we stay here overnight !(B/L/D) Night in lodge

10 Day

Today we will drive to the picturesque city of Tuan Shan (1h) On the way we will stop for some Photos at the Double Dragon Bridge. The bridge was constructed with only three arches during the Qing Dynasty in the 1800s and took many years to complete. Even today the Double Dragon Bridge is considered a masterpiece of traditional Chinese bridge-making and incorporates all the classic components of ancient bridge construction. It is evidence of what the technological development in ancient China was like, and the fact that it still stands today is a testament to its durability. Back in Jianshui we will walk Chaoyang Gateway Arch. Built in 1389 AD, it stands in the center of the city as the symbol of this ancient military town.Today, it is a public cultural center and meeting point for the locals. They come here to meet, sing, dance, trade and gossip. As the sun fades there will be endless photo opportunities of aged people full of charisma, charm and character! (B/L/D) Night in Lodge

11.Day

From Tien Shui back in Kunming were we have time to walk in the old and new part of the city.After dinner we take the night train to Lijiang.(B/L/D)

12.Day

Lijiang is a UNESCO World – Heritage Site and a must to visit when you are in Yunnan province. We have the rest of the day for Lijiang.The cobble stone roads and the wooden buildings of the old town are inspiring and are often photographed. The history of Lijiang goes back to the year 476 before Christ and developed into one of the most important places at that time. The ancient tea trading route from Beijing to India went through here. We can also visit a traditional paper made by hand workshop of the Dongba minority and visit a traditional Chinese tea ceremony.(B/L/D) Night in Guesthouse.

13.Day

Today we start the hike at the Tiger Leaping Gorge. An early morning bus brings us to the trail head of this famous trek.(3h) First walking through small villages as they increase on the heights, we get to see the river far down below. Continuing the climb we will also recognize that the scenery and surrounding nature is changing too. We are walking on the higher way through the gorge. After about 5 hours we will arrive at our guesthouse and can enjoy the spectacular view from the nice terrace and try some local pancakes with delicious Yunnan coffee. (B/L/D)

PS: Who doesn't feel like hiking can easily take a local taxi and meet us later at our guesthouse. Luggage we don´t need on that trip will be left in Lijiang.

14.Day

After a typical Naxi breakfast we will start an easy day mostly walking level ground, with some up and downs. Later we will slowly descend through a nice pine forest pass, a waterfall and a beautiful Buddhist temple where we will stop for pictures. Later at the end of the gorge we have a light lunch. A mini bus is waiting there for us and brings us to the village of Bai Shui Tai.(3,5h) (B/L/D) Night In Guesthouse

PS: Who doesn't feel like hiking can easily take a local taxi and meet us later at our guesthouse.

15.Day

Today is the day of the local festival.There are a lot of different ethnic, tribal groups arrive from all over that mountain area.The bring chicken and roosters to eat, drink, play music and dance near the spring. An outstanding experience to be among those people who having always a great time here and celebrating until dusk. At least as impressive as the dancers up there are the market people down at the town. Man and women are wearing their finest traditional dresses, a feast for your senses! At afternoon we will drive back to the end of the tiger leaping gorge(2,5h)(B/L/D)Night in Hotel

16.Day

Today is another exciting day where we will hike down to the bottom of the gorge (1720m/5650ft.) and we will see, feel and hear a spectacular scene, the noise and sound of the roaring water. An estimated mass of 9000 m ³ of water passes this spot every second! A truly unforgettable experience that you will never forget! Climbing back up we will use at some parts small ladders to get to our guesthouse at 2210m/7250ft.(5 h round trip) After we will take a short rest and refreshment and drive back to Lijiang.(B/Snack/D) Night in Guesthouse.

17. Day

The local, colorful and diverse farmer's market of Lijiang is a feast for your senses. The variety of fruits, vegetables, fish & meat, spices, herbs, rice and tea is unbelievable. The sounds, smells, colors are just overwhelming. Of course we will see different ethnic minority groups do their shopping here or selling their home products. After lunch we will ride rented bikes to Baisha (1h), a small village that looks like what Lijiang was thirty years ago. It used to be the capital of the independent kingdom of the Naxi people. Here we will visit a Batik workshop and an incredible silk embroidery school. Once we return to Lijiang, since you are already familiar with this place, the rest of the day is for you. (B/L/D) Night in guesthouse

18.Day

After breakfast we will take a comfortable coach to Dali (2h) Here in our very beautiful decorated Lodge we can relax and enjoy this amazing place. In the afternoon we go for a walk through this old city. (B/D/L) Night in Lodge

19.Day

Dali - Home of the Bai Minority. After walking the streets of Dali we will drive to the three famous pagodas, which is about 2 kilometers northwest of the ancient city of Dali, occupying a scenic location at the foot of Mt. Changshan. It is a symbol of the history of Dali City, and a record of the development of Buddhism in the area. As its name implies, Three Pagodas are made of three ancient independent pagodas forming a symmetrical triangle. This is unique in China. Back to Dali old town; the rest of this day is free for you. The old town roads are forbidden for traffic so you can just walk along those ancient roads with its shops and people. At night we will cook together with our Chinese hosts a delicious dinner ! (B/L/D) Night in Hotel.

20. Day

After a relaxed, tasty breakfast we will ride on rented bicycles to the shore of Dali’s big lake. Here we will see a lot of agriculture and many old houses. There is plenty of time to stop and take pictures. With a size of more than 250 km² it is China's second largest highland lake. During the afternoon back in Dali we will drive to a local tea farm for a cup of tea that comes with the great view of the Erhai lake. The rest of the day can be spent alone or with friends. In the evening we take the nigh train to Kunming.(B/L/D) Night in Guesthouse

21.Day

Back in Kunming. Check into our hotel. The rest of the day is free.Ask your guides what they suggest !Maybe a massage and some shopping...!? (B/L/D) Night in Hotel.